School: The Downs (roll number 8875)
- Location:
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: S. Molloy
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0730, Page 173
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- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- Local Marriage Customs
Local marriages take place before lent and before advent.
The olden people used to say that May was an unlucky month for marriages. The customs are observed that the company enjoy themselves to plenty of food and drink and dancing and singing.
They also have a wedding cake which is cut first by the bride and all wish her health and happiness. The breakfast is always held at the bride home.
The man whom the bride gets married to is called the bridegroom.
The bride and the bridegroom go to the chapel in a motor or in a bus and long ago they used to go on a horse and cart.
The dance is always held after the dinner at the brides home.
All the friends and neighbours always throw an old boot or shoe after the cart to wish the bride good luck.
Straw boys visit a wedding(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Mary Mc Cormack
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
- Informant
- Mrs Mc Cormack
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 43
- Address
- The Downs, Co. Westmeath
